PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tai Zao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toghrul Asgarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toghrul Asgarov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tai Zao's chin.

Zao
vs
Asgarov

173 cm
19
136 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Knockout power

AnonymouS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tai Zao!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Toghrul Asgarov!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Paulsen Ambrosius and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Asgarov throws a push kick but Zao slaps the foot to one side.
Asgarov throws a leg kick that misses.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Zao.
Asgarov throws a combination. Zao tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Zao tries to clinch there but Asgarov circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Asgarov. Zao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zao changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Asgarov misses with a wild body shot.
Zao is looking to clinch but Asgarov is avoiding it.
Asgarov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Zao.
Asgarov stuns Zao with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Asgarov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Zao looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Asgarov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zao on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Zao tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Asgarov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Asgarov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zao defends it well.
Asgarov is looking to chop away at Zao's legs.
Asgarov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Zao has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Spartan Elite 24x7 in the buildup to the fight.
Zao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Asgarov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asgarov lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Zao scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Asgarov is trying to maintain the position but Zao is very close to passing his half guard.
Zao is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Zao is pressing down on Asgarov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Asgarov is holding on for now.
Zao wants to control but Asgarov is keeping him busy.
Zao trying to mount his opponent but Asgarov defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zao trying to control from half guard but Asgarov is working away.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zao is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zao tries to clinch there but Asgarov circles away.
Asgarov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zao defends it well.
Toghrul Asgarov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Asgarov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Zao.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Asgarov! But no joy.
Zao misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Asgarov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Asgarov tries to land a leg kick but Zao saw it coming and moves away.
Zao takes a swing at Asgarov's ribcage but misses.
Zao is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Asgarov.
Zao tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zao steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Asgarov. That one must have hurt.
Zao tries to clinch but Asgarov moves out of range.
Zao tries to clinch but Asgarov moves out of range.
Zao throws a lazy uppercut

and Asgarov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Asgarov.
A short uppercut from Asgarov.
Asgarov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The referee is keeping an eye on Zao - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Zao using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Asgarov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zao creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Zao escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Zao moves to clinch but Asgarov breaks away

so Asgarov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Asgarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Asgarov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Asgarov with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Asgarov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Asgarov throws an elbow that misses. Zao uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Asgarov's guard. Nice move by Zao!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Asgarov trying to keep a closed guard but Zao is proving a slippery customer.
Zao working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Zao trying to control the position from guard on top but Asgarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toghrul Asgarov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice uppercut lands for Asgarov. That snapped Zao's head back.
Asgarov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Asgarov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Zao closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Asgarov did well to prevent Zao getting side control.
Asgarov wants to get back to full guard.
Asgarov keeps trying to improve his position.
Asgarov regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Asgarov holds on and takes a little breather.
Zao trying to control the position from guard on top but Asgarov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zao keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Asgarov's head.
Zao tries to free his leg and advance position but Asgarov is retaining full guard.
Asgarov wants to sweep here but Zao controlling him for the moment.
Zao throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zao stopping the sweep attempt from Asgarov.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Zao throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Asgarov throws a low kick, looking for Zao's leg but Zao calmly moves out of range.

Zao closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Asgarov to the mat! Asgarov manages to get full guard.
Zao trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zao controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asgarov controls Zao momentarily but Zao frees himself.
Asgarov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Zao wants to control from the top but Asgarov keeps moving.
Asgarov trying to keep a closed guard but Zao is proving a slippery customer.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asgarov has Zao pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Zao is looking to clinch.
Zao takes a kick to the side of the head.
Zao lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Zao throws a head kick that Asgarov semi-blocks.
Asgarov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Zao backs up against the cage.

Zao rushes Asgarov and presses him up against the cage.

Zao manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zao tries to close the distance and clinch up but Asgarov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Zao pushes Asgarov up against the cage in a clinch.
Asgarov tries a body shot but Zao blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zao misses with some punches.
Asgarov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Asgarov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Zao is rocked!
Stalling in the clinch from Asgarov.
Oh Zao is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Asgarov.
Zao wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Asgarov has him pressed against the cage.
Asgarov tries to throw a body punch but Zao avoids it by throwing Asgarov back against the cage.
Asgarov prevents a body shot from Zao.
Asgarov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Zao seems to have got his legs back now.
Asgarov blocking some punches.
A right handed body shot lands from Asgarov.
Zao pushes off an throws an elbow but Asgarov leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Asgarov lands a nice uppercut.
Zao tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Zao is trying to push Asgarov away but Asgarov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tai Zao will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Asgarov. Zao does a little dance to reset his feet.
Asgarov misses with a series of wild punches.
A little feinted left hand from Zao on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Zao lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Asgarov circles away quickly and effectively.
Tai Zao is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Zao closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Asgarov quickly recovers to half guard.
Zao trying to control the action but Asgarov is working from the bottom.
Asgarov is looking to improve his position.
Asgarov manages to get to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asgarov keeping moving, preventing Zao from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asgarov is pulling down on Zao's head. It's preventing any offense from Zao, at least for the moment.
Asgarov keeping full guard, as Zao tries to pass.
Asgarov wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zao tries to clinch but Asgarov is having none of it.

Zao manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Asgarov on his heels. He'll look to pass Asgarov's guard now, I'm sure.
Asgarov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asgarov seems keen to control Zao's posture.
Asgarov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Zao trying to control but Asgarov is working from the bottom.
Zao pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Asgarov is keeping the position for now.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zao not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Zao doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Zao looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Asgarov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Zao.

Zao is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zao is looking to take a break and control but Asgarov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asgarov is looking for a sweep. Zao is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Asgarov is controlling Zao's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Zao is pressing down on Asgarov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Asgarov is holding on for now.
Asgarov taking some punishment here, with Zao in his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Asgarov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Asgarov.
Zao content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tai Zao showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Zao has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tai Zao!
Tai Zao was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.